Theory- Merging Your Range - Page 4

xorbie · #31 04-29-2007, 01:54 PM

If you merge ranges too much, there's rather easy ways to counteract that.

aejones · #32 04-29-2007, 02:08 PM

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If you merge ranges too much, there's rather easy ways to counteract that.

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minraise preflop?

g-p · #33 04-29-2007, 02:18 PM

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If you merge ranges too much, there's rather easy ways to counteract that.

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no, there are no 'rather' easy ways to do it. its tough to play against someone who does it well.

Jason Strasser (strassa2) · #34 04-29-2007, 05:24 PM

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Here you go punter:

Full Tilt Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (2 handed) Hand History converter Courtesy of PokerZion.com

Button ($1550)
Hero ($603)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. Button posts a blind of $6.
Hero raises to $15, Button (poster) calls $12.

Flop: ($33) 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
Button checks, Hero bets $24, Button calls $24.

Turn: ($81) 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
Button checks, Hero bets $66, Button calls $66.

River: ($213) 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
Button checks, Hero bets $180, Button calls $180.

Final Pot: $573

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this strikes me as a totally obvious straight value bet. i guess once in a while he cc with a 5, but hardly ever.

xorbie · #35 04-29-2007, 05:30 PM

[ QUOTE ]
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If you merge ranges too much, there's rather easy ways to counteract that.

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no, there are no 'rather' easy ways to do it. its tough to play against someone who does it well.

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Obviously, in the sense that there is an unexploitable NE strategy. But that doesn't say much.

aejones · #36 04-29-2007, 05:34 PM

Yea, I'm having trouble finding good examples since I lost so many hand histories when I screwed up my Poker Tracker... Anyways, this looks a little closer.

Full Tilt Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (2 handed) Hand History converter Courtesy of PokerZion.com

Button ($2055)
Hero ($906)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]. Button posts a blind of $6.
Hero raises to $15, Button (poster) calls $12.

Flop: ($33) 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Button checks, Hero bets $24, Button calls $24.

Turn: ($81) K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
Button checks, Hero bets $66, Button calls $66.

River: ($213) 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
Button checks, Hero bets $160.

I think he calls with a 4 X% of the time, and folds a 7 Y% or the time, but these percentages should be fairly close for both hands, since he "shouldn't" think I'm betting 66 here...

xorbie · #37 04-29-2007, 05:41 PM

One thing I will say though is that it's incorrect to think about it as the bettor merging ranges as just arbitrary correct. Merging ranges isn't even really the right word for it at all, it's an issue of the caller being in a position of widening his range in response to what he sees as a very polarized betting range. So when you "merge" ranges, he's already done it, otherwise there's no point.

The only reason we bother is because we bluff a lot, and the only reason we bother with that is because there's dead money in the pot. There is, theoretically, some ideal frequency with which to double barrel, whith which to triple barrel and so forth. All that's going on here is that, intuitively, both players are moving in that direction. "Merging ranges" per se isn't +EV, it's just that we haven't gotten to the point of value betting 4th pair or whatever, at which point people may as well actually flip coins.

pete fabrizio · #38 04-29-2007, 06:07 PM

Board 667JK, I have a jack. Pot size is $1000. I think my opponent has either 8's, 9's, T's, Q's, or a King. About half the time he has the Q's or a king, and about half the time he has the smaller PP. I'm considering "valuebluffing" with a pot-sized bet, but I'm pretty sure he will only fold the Q's or K's about 40% of the time, so the play is unprofitable just as a bluff, with an e.v. of -$200. However, about 25% of the time that I have him beat, I'm pretty sure he will "look me up" on a pure bluffcatch. So half the time, I make $250 profit. My total e.v. for the play is +$50.

So I bet, not knowing whether I want him to fold a better hand or call with a worse one.

take home point is don't be afraid to bluff with hands that have showdown value, because even if the bluff is slightly -.e.v, that can be offset by the possibility that you get looked up by a bluff-catcher.

pete fabrizio · #39 04-29-2007, 06:09 PM

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I think the concept is only valuable vs big donks.
As Strasser and the like thinks otherwise there is some chance I am wrong.

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It's precisely the opposite.

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two-way bets work best against unpredictable opponents, whether bad or good.

Kristian · #40 04-29-2007, 06:11 PM

I think these are interesting concepts. Thanks for writing.